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Lake Forest, Calif.-based Del Taco is hungry for growth. This Mexican brand — strong on the West Coast and in the Southwest — is making its way east with targeted expansions in Atlanta and Orlando, Fla.

Bennigan’s is in the midst of an effort to bring the brand back from the brink with its latest location in Mandan, N.D., Co-Owner Gwen Mangiamele’s hometown.

Fork & Salad, a Maui, Hawaii-based health-forward fast-casual concept with two locations on the island, will debut its first mainland U.S. restaurant in Orange, Calif., later this year.  

Experience-focused emerging coffee chain Alfred Coffee opened its eighth location, this one in new the LINE LA hotel in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood.

Arkansas-based Slim Chickens, a fast-casual “better chicken” chain opened a corporate-owned restaurant in its headquarters market of Fayetteville in August.

Build-your-own poké concept Pokeatery will be opening its first East Coast location in Charlotte, N.C., inside the Epicentre shopping center, before year’s end.

The Hummus & Pita Co. opened its first franchised location in Brookfield, Conn., in August.

Atlanta-based McAlister’s Deli is rolling out a new prototype restaurant and brand updating in Atlanta in September focused on families and community engagement.